Geat for umbrellas.



P'A 'EENTED JULY 7, 1903.

R. REININGBRL GEAT FOR UMBRELLAS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.10. 1900. RENEWED JUHB 1. 1003.

N0 MODEL.

Witnesses @lbfowug THE scams warns co., momumu, WASHINGTON. 0. cv

UNITED STATES Patented July 7, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

RIVET WORKS, JERSEY.

OF NEWARK, NET/V "JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW GEAT FOR UMBRELLAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 73 dated July 7, 1903.Application filed October 10, 1900. Renewed June 1, 1903. Serial No.159,616. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD REININGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Umbrella-Frames,

and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to umbrella ribs and stretchers, and it relatesparticularly to means for connecting those forms of these parts of anumbrella-frame which are formed as to allow the stretchers to restwithin the ribs when the frame of which they form parts are folded, thusallowing the ribs and stretchers to lie closely along the umbrella-rodto present a compact body of small diameter when the cover is tightlywound around the frame.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and cheapdevice for connectin g the parts referred to, capable of rapidattachment, and which may be formed from metal by machinery capable ofbeing operated by an unskilled person.

Further, the object of the invention is to provide means for theconnecting umbrella ribs and stretchers of such form that no weakeningof the parts by piercing the different members to allow the introductionof pins or rivets is necessary.

Further, the object of the invention is to provide means for connectingumbrellaribs and Spreaders which shall present no rough or protrudingedges to come into contact with or injure a fabric cover to be attachedto the ribs.

With these objects in view the invention consists, essentially, of thefastener for the purpose specified, comprising a clip inclosing anumbrellarib and having its ends notched, the notched ends extending intothe groove of the rib, and a spreader having projections protrudingtherefrom and adapted to engage the respective notches of the clip.

Further, the invention consists of novel details of construction of theconnecting means, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a perspective view of a section of an umbrella-rib having aspreader attached thereto by my improved means, the inner face of therib being shown. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blank for formingthe attaching-clip. Figs. 3, 4., and 5 show progressive stages offorming the clip for at- I face outward.

15 represents a spreader corresponding in cross-section to that of therib and being somewhat smaller in size than the latter, permitting thespreader to lie within the groove of the rib when the umbrella isfolded.

The clip by which the rib and stretcher are connected is shown inposition for use in Fig. l-of the drawings, and the progressive stagesof its formation are shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4

and 5. In forming the clip, which is designated in the drawings by theletter C, a blank slightly curved from end to end and having a notch cin each end is cut from metal by a punch or otherwise. The blank is thenstruck by a die or otherwise operated upon to bend up the ends 0 at anobtuse angle. to the main portion of the. blank. Next the blank isformed into the shape shown in Fig. 4 by bending up the endsthereof,leaving an intermediate rounded portion 0 of a shape corresponding tothe exteriorof the solid portion of the rib-to which the clip is to beapplied. After this the ends 0 are bent inward approximately at rightangles to the portion of the blank adjacent to them, and the clip isthen ready to be attached to the rib and to be bent into its final shapeto con- 'IOO nect the spreader to the rib. It will be observed that theblank when first formed is, as will be seen from Fig. 6 of the drawings,beveled along the edges 0 which in the completed clip form the ends ofthe latter. The bevel is entirely on the outer face of the clip, theinner face being left plain in order to lie close to the rib to which itis attached. The bevel is such as to present a sharp edge, so that whenthe clip is closely applied to a rib the edge practically loses itselfin the surface of the rib, and therefore oifers no projecting surface.The end of the spreader adapted for attachment to the rib has formedwith or attached to it projections I), extending laterally from thespreader. These projections are adapted to enter and engage the notchesor openings in the ends of the clip when the parts described are inplace for use.

In assembling the parts the blank after assuming the former shape inFig. 5 is slipped upon the rib, and the end of the spreader having theprojections is introduced, the projections being within the groove inthe rib and in line with the notches in the ends 0' of the blank. Theends 0' are then bent downward into the rib, closely confining the innerfaces of the sides of the rib. Thus the projections from the spreader,which are approximately of a length corresponding to the thickness ofthe metal of the clip at the center thereof, are retained by thenotches, and removal of the spreader from the rib is renderedimpossible, and at the same time a hinge joint permitting movement ofthe spreader to lie within the rib or to be extended at an angle theretois provided.

The clip is, as shown, permitted to be as thick as may be necessary atits center to give proper strength at the point at which the projectionsof the spreader come in contact with it and at the same time to offer noobjectionable protuberance on the rib at its point of attachment, thebeveling of the rib on its outer surface presenting a smooth surfacewhich is practically a continuation of the rib. The construction of theclip requiring no weakening of the rib orspreader by piercing to allowthe introduction of the pin or rivet has many advantages over theordinary means of connection of these parts. In fact, additionalstrength is given the ribs at the point where the most wear and straincomes in raising and lowering the umbrella.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a grooved umbrellarib, a clip inclosing theexterior of the rib and having indentationsin the ends thereof, thenotched ends extending into the groove of the rib, and a stretcherhaving projections extending from the opposite sides thereof andengaging the notches of the clip, the indentations being of a sizecorresponding to that of the projections, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a grooved umbrellarib, of a clip the edges whereofare beveled, inclosing the exterior of the rib and having indentationsin the ends thereof, the indented ends being bent to lie along the innerfaces of the rib, and a spreader having projections extending fromopposite sides thereof and adapted to enter the indentations, theindentations being of a size to closely confine the projections,substantially as described.

3. The combination With a grooved umbrella-rib of a clip extendingaround and closely con fining the outer surface of the rib, the innersurface of the clip being plane and the outer surface being beveled atthe edges, the ends of the clip being notched and extending into thegroove of the rib along the respective sides thereof, and a spreaderhaving projections extending from opposite sides thereof, theprojections being adapted to enter and be confined in the notches of theclip, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD REININGER.

Witnesses: I

JOHN C. BATTERSON, ARCHIE B. (JooPER.

